Major corporations making vast improvements on climate strategies

Scores up 54% from 2007; 10% improvement over 2010; Unilever tops scoring for first time

Durham, NH (December 7, 2011) – Climate Counts’ 2011 company scores represent a leap in corporate climate responsibility (CCR) by major consumer brands over the past 5 years. Unilever, makers of Axe body spray and Dove soap, came out as the top company for the first time ever—supplanting Nike, which had held the top spot for three consecutive years.

2011 scoring results, now available online and through the Climate Counts iPhone App, show that average scores have risen 54% since 2007, and that 13 companies are now scoring 80 points or better, compared to only 4 last year. Climate Counts assessed 136 companies in sixteen industry sectors for their 5th annual scorecard.

“We’re witnessing a remarkable shift across the corporate community,” said Mike Bellamente, Climate Counts Project Director, “as risks associated with climate change continue to grow, sustainability has gone from being a buzz word to a concept embraced at the highest levels of business.”

Unilever, a $60 billion company, exemplifies the integrated approach to CCR that Climate Counts is seeing from industry leaders. Their unique “Sustainable Living Plan” enables Unilever to identify every opportunity across their operations to increase efficiency and reduce emissions. “Similar to how Henry Ford revolutionized mass production in the 20th century,” said Bellamente, “leading edge companies are demonstrating how climate stewardship no longer needs to come at the cost of profitability.”

"Unilever is delighted to have emerged as the top performer in the Climate Counts company ranking for 2011,” said Gavin Neath Senior Vice President Sustainability. “The Unilever Sustainable Living Plan commits us to reduce dramatically the water, waste and Greenhouse Gases generated by our factories, and to halve the overall environmental impact of our products. We are making solid progress towards these goals, and attaining the standard of excellence set by Climate Counts is an important indication of how we rate with respect to our peers."

Climate Counts scores the largest companies (by revenue) in sixteen industry sectors on their actions to address climate change The companies are scored on a 0-to-100 point scale based on 22 criteria that measure companies’ efforts to assess their own climate footprint, reduce their emissions, support (or block) progress on major climate legislation, and communicate their efforts clearly and comprehensively to consumers.

This year’s Climate Counts sector leaders are as follows:

Airlines: Southwest Airlines: Southwest (55)

Apparel/Accessories: Nike (85)

Beverages - Beer: Anheuser-Busch (57)

Commercial Banks: Bank of America (82)

Consumer Shipping: UPS (80)

Electronics: Hewlett-Packard (83)

Food Products: Unilever (88)

Food Services: Starbucks (70)

Home and Office Furnishings: Herman Miller and Masco (63)

Hotels: Marriott (73)

Household Products: L’Oreal (78)

Internet/Software: Microsoft (68)

Large Appliances: AB Electrolux (80)

Media: General Electric (77)*

Pharmaceuticals: AstraZeneca (86)

Toys & Children’s Equipment: Hasbro (52)

A report and the full 2011 Climate Counts review are available at www.climatecounts.org and on their App. The non-profit organization also has a voluntary scoring and benchmarking program -- called Climate Counts Industry Innovators (i2).

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About Climate Counts

Climate Counts is a non-profit organization bringing consumers and companies together in the fight against global climate change. Launched with financial support from organics pioneer Stonyfield Farm, the Climate Counts Company Scorecard was developed with oversight from a panel of business and climate experts from leading non-governmental organizations and academic institutions.

Criteria were chosen for their effectiveness at accomplishing a single goal – solving the global climate crisis. Since 2007, Climate Counts researchers have used these criteria to now rate the climate actions of nearly 150 companies (representing approximately 3,000 brands) in 16 industry sectors.

Companies are given the opportunity to confirm or provide public data sources. Information on all scored companies is available at www.climatecounts.org

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